You Are the Apple of My Eye

From 1994, Shen Chia-yi, an outstanding student who wins admiration from teachers and classmates, and Ko Ching-teng, a mischievous, financially modest classmate, share a complex early connection that quietly shapes their futures. An awkward incident in class leads the principal to seat Ching-teng in front of Chia-yi, setting the stage for a evolving dynamic between them. When Chia-yi forgets her English textbook, Ching-teng lends her his own, endures a long lecture and punishment, and this small act moves her to repay him with help: she prepares a practice exam, urges him to stay after school to study, and their study sessions slowly draw them closer. As Ching-teng’s grades rise, their bond deepens, turning companionship into something steadier and more meaningful.

After graduation, the paths diverge. Ching-teng enters a university at National Chiao Tung University, while Chia-yi, hampered by illness on the day of her entrance exam, only manages to enroll at the National Taipei University of Education. From his campus, Ching-teng keeps in touch with late-night phone calls, comforting her across the distance. During the winter break, they share their first “date” together, and Ching-teng asks if she loves him; out of fear of hearing a rejection, he chooses not to hear the answer, though it is later revealed that her response would likely have been “yes.” A later plan to impress her—organized fight night—backfires, as she finds the stunt childish, and they break up.

Years pass with little contact, until Ching-teng shifts to writing online stories and pursues graduate studies at Tunghai University. The 1999 Jiji earthquake becomes a turning point, prompting a long conversation that reveals both regret and a sense that fate did not intend them to be a couple. By 2005, Chia-yi announces she is getting married, prompting a gathering of old friends who reflect on how their once-romantic feelings have matured into a deep, lasting friendship and a sense of serenity. In the wedding-day celebration, a playful dare to kiss the bride spirals into a moment where Ching-teng kisses the groom—an impulsive act that rekindles memories of their past and the lingering possibility of apology, underscoring the film’s quiet meditation on love, fate, and reconciliation.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:47